ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess factors which are related to consecutive esotropia after surgery of intermittent exotropia. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of intermittent exotropia patients who had undergone surgery from January 1995 to February 2002, and followed for over 3 months. Patients who developed consecutive esotropia of more than 10 prism diopters (PD) were included in this study. RESULTS: Postoperatively esotropia deveolped in 101 of 1222 patients (8.3%), and persisted for more than 3 months in 32 patients (2.6%). Mean age at operation was 6.02 +/- 2.21 years old. Mean angle of exodeviation at operation was 29.67 +/- 6.16 PD. The incidence of esotropia was high when the angle of preoperative exodeviation was 30-35 PD, and age at operation was less than 6 years. Duration of esotropia was longer when the preoperative exodeviation angle was 30-35 prism diopter, and age at operation was more than 7 years. There was no significant relationship between overcorrected esotropia and amblyopia, inferior oblique muscle overaction, lateral incommitance, or stereopsis. CONCLUSIONS: Factors related to prolonged consecutive esotropia following surgery of intermittent esotropia were the preoperative exodeviation angle of 30-35 PD, and age at operation of more than 7 years.